Ignition-switch lock



W 1929- F. w. ANDREW MINNIE IGNITION SWITCH LOCK Filed Oct. '7, 1926 .-lTTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,710,912 PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. ANDREW, OF ANDALUSIA, BENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE- AS-SIGNMENTS, TO THE ELECTROLOGK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF VIGKSBUBG,MISSISSIPPI, A CORPORATION OF MISSISSIPPI.

rom'rron-swnrcn Loox.

Application filed October 7, 1926. Serial No. 140,051.

My invention relates to looks which are adapted to be used for thepurpose of locking ignition switches in oil position.

In the case of automobiles, motor boats, aeroplanes and other structureswhich need not be enumerated, it is very desirable that means beassociated with the ignition switch lock to compel the removal of thekey if it be desired that the locking means shall be retained in lockingposition with the switch contacts in oil position.

The general object, therefore, of the present invention is to providemeans whereby, after the operation of the locking element to shift themovable switch contacts into ofi position, it is necessary to remove thekey in order that the said contacts may be retained in such position.

It also is an object of the invention to rovide means associated withthe lock 0 an ignition switch or the like which is adapted to operateupon the removal of the key after the operation of the lock into lockingposition to retain the same in that position with the switch contacts inof? position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which is adapted toretain the lock and the switch contacts associated therewith in onposition at all times when the key is present in the lock.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ignition switch lockwith means whereby it is necessary that the key for the lock be removedin order to efi'ect locking of the switch contacts in the ofi or openposition. To these and other ends my invention comprehends theconstruction as hereinafter described in detail. illustrated in thedrawing, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However. it will beunderstood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in otherforms of construction than that shown and that various changes in thedetails of construction may be made within the scope of the claimswithout departing from the said invention: and it also will beunderstood that the invention while illustrated in association with anignition switch lock is not limited to such association but may beemployed in any other relation for which it may be adapted. i

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in central longitudinal section of a device embodyingthe invention, a portion of the locking structure and the movable switchcont acts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken in the same plane as that of Fig. 1 but with thelock barrel and movable switch contacts mounted thereon turned throughan angle of approximately 90, the releasing key having been removed;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionalview taken on the line 4-4. of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view taken in a plane substantially at right angles to thatin which Fig. 1 is taken;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken 9n the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1:and

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of the rear end of the rotatable lockbarrel and of the casing within which the latter is located.

In the drawing I have shown a casing 1 having a bottom 2 and a top 3secured to a lateral flange 4 at the outer open end of the casing 1. Thetop is provided with a central opening 5 through which the outer end ofthe lock barrel 6 extends. The said barrel is provided with a number oftransversely extending slots 7 within which are located locking tumblers8. These tumblers are adapted to project laterally from the lockingbarrel into position to engage the edge 10 of a slot 11 formed in thewall of a cylinder 12 within which the locking barrel 6 is located. Itis necessary, however, that the releasing key 9 be removed from the lockin order that the locking tumblers 8 may be permitted tomove into theslot 11 under the influence of the coiled springs 9", one spring beingassociated with each tumbler. The slot 11 is formed by first cutting acouple of parallel slits in the wall of the cylinder after which theintermediate strip of metal 13 is pressed outwardly as shown. Acorresponding diametrically opposed outwardly projected strip 16 isprovided with which the book 17 at one end of the coiled spring 18 isadapted to be engaged. The slot 19 resulting from the formation of thestrip 16 performs no special function in the structure but it ispreferred that the strip 16 be provided as a means for attachment of thehook 17 at one end of the coiled spring wire 18 in order that asymmetrical and balanced structure may be produced. The outer ends ofthe strips 13 and 16 previously referred to project slightly beyond theouter end of the cylinder 12 and extend through openings 26 in the cover3 and are upset as shown in order to secure the cylinder 12 to the saidcover. The inner end of the cylinder 12 is provided with a narrowinwardly turned flange 25 a portion of which is cut away as indicated at26. Thecutting away of the portionof the flange as indicated results inthe formation of shoulders 27. The inner end of the lock barrel whichextends slightly beyond the inner end of the cylinder 12 is providedwith a small lateral projection 28 which is located and is adapted tomove in the space 26. The said projection is adapted to contact with theshoulders 27 to limit the extent. of rotation ofthe lock barrel 6 anddevices carried thereby.

The opposite end of the spring 18 previously referred to is providedwith a hook 230 which is in engagement. with one edge of a rectangularshaped sheet 31 of insulating material which is secured by means ofscrews 32 to the inner or rear end of the lock barrel 6. The said lockbarrel is also provided with a couple of guide pins 33 which engage inopenings in the sheet 31 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing.

The spring 18 is coiled about the supporting cylinder 12 and istensioned so that its tendency is to hold the barrel 6 of the lock inrivets 37 previously referred to.

the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7, at which time the ignitionswitch is in on position.

The movable switch contacts 35 are mounted upon the sheet 31 ofinsulating material. These contacts 35 consist, in the constructionshown, of the opposite end portions of a strip 6 secured by means ofrivets 37 to the lower end of the sheet 31. The strip 36 is relativelythin and consists of any suitable metal, as for instance, copper. As itmay happen that as a result of the heating of the strip by electriccurrent passing therethrough it may lose its resilience, I have provideda backing strip 40 of spring steel which is secured in lace by the heportions of the strip 40 near the outer ends thereof are spaced from theopposing adjoining portions of the strip 36. The extreme outer ends ofthe strip 40 terminate in laterally extending portions 41 which engagethe contact portlons 35 of the contact strip 36 and operate to brace thesame and to insure close contact of the movable contacts 35, with thestationary contacts mounted in the bottom of the casing 1.

The bottom of the casing 1 is provided with a sheet 43 of insulatingmaterial upon which thestationarycontacts i laremounted. These contactshave connection through conductors 45 with the ignition mechanism which,how" ever, is not shown. The movable contacts 35 previously referred to,when in on position,

are in contact with the stationary contacts as tributor which is notshown in the drawin Upon reference of Fig. 7 of the drawing it will bequite apparent that when the movable contacts 35 are in contact with thestationary contacts 44 the locking tumblers 8 are prevented frommovement by reason of the relationship of the opposite ends thereof tothe cylinder 12. At such time it will be apparent also that the key 9cannot be removed. When, however, the key is turned in clockwisedirection, having reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, thebarrel of the lock is thereby turned into the position shown in Fig. 3in which position the locking tumblers 8 are ree to project into theslot 11 under the influence of the springs 9. If, however, the key isallowed to remain in position it will preventmovement of the saidtumblers radially into the said slot. The said tumblers being at suchtime free to move, the key may be withdrawn from the lock and as the keyis withdrawn the springs 9 cause the respective tumblers 8 to projectinto the slot 11, whereupon the lock barrel and the movable contacts 35previously referred to are held in locked or oil position. At such timethe movable contacts 35 are in contact with the stationary contacts 50and 51. It will be noted that the lock is illustrated in Fig. 3 of thedrawing with the key removed and with the tumblers in locking positionin engagement with the edge 10 of the slot 11. Upon turning the key andthe lock barrel into the position shown in Fig. 3, if the key is notremoved in order to permit radial outward movement of the lockingtumblers 8, the lock barrel together with the contacts carried therebywill upon release of the key be returned by the spring 18 immediately tothe position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7, in which position theswitch will be in what is generally called the on position; that is,'themovable contacts 35 will be in contact with the stationary contacts 44and the circuit will be completed through the ignition mechanism, whichis not shown.

It will be apparent, therefore, that in order to hold the switchcontactsin off position it is necessary to remove the key and that afterthe key has been removed the switch cannot be returned to on positionwithout first inserting the key into the lock. It may be noted also thatthe mere insertion of the key operates to withdraw the locking tumblers8 from position to contact with the ed e 10 of the slot 11 so thatimmediately upon t e insertion of the key into the lock and the releaseof the same the spring 18 efl'ects immediate operation of the switchinto the on position.

Having thus described 111 invention, what I claim and desire to secure yLetters Patent 1. In an ignition switch lock, the combination of arotatable member, contacts mounted upon said member and adapted to bemoved by the rotation of said member into off or on position, a lock forlocking the said contacts in off position, a key for the lock,

and means operating when the key is in the" lock to hold the movablecontacts in on position. a

2. In an ignition switch lock, the combination of a lock comprising amovable member, contacts mounted upon the said member, a key for thelock to effect movement ofthe said member to shift the contacts into offposition, and means whereby the contacts will be held in off positiononly upon removal of the said key. v

3. In an ignition switch lock, the combinationof a lock comprising arotatable member having electric contacts mounted thereon, whichcontacts are adapted to cooperate with stationary contacts, yieldingmeans tending to rotate said rotatable member into position to cause thecontacts thereon, to engage with the stationary contacts, a key for thesaid lock adapted to be employed for rotating said member to carry thecontacts mounted thereon into off position, locking elements mountedupon the said rotatable member, said elements being held in unlockedposition by the said ke means for preventing the withdrawal oftiie keyfrom the lock except when the said rotatable member has been moved tocarry the contacts into ofi position, and means operating upon theremoval of the key to actuate the said locking elements into lockingposition.

4. In an ignition switch lock, in combinallOIlyil lock comprising arotatable member having electric contacts mounted thereon.

which are adapted by the rotation of said rotatable member to beadjusted to on and cifi' positions, spring acting means tending to causerotation of said member to adjust said contacts to on position, acylindor'within which the said rotatable member is mounted, saidcylinder having a longitudinally ex-' tending slot ther'in, lockingelements movable transversely of the said rotatable member andadaptcd toengage said slot, a key for the lock which is adapted to hold the saidlockillo' elements against movement into said slot, w llCll key isremovable from the lock nly when the said rotatable member has been.moved into position to place the said con- .tacts in off position, andmeans operating upon removal of the key to cause movement of the saidlockmg elements transversely of the said rotatable member to cause oneend.

of each of said elements to project into the slot in the said cylinder.

5. An ignition switch lock, comprising a lock including a rotatablemember, electric contacts'mounted on said member, a key for the lock,means for preventing insertion or removal of the key into or from thelock ex cept when the said rotatable element is in position to hold thecontacts in off position,

and means exerting continuous force upon said rotatable member tendingto cause rotation thereof to'move said contacts into and to hold thesame in on position.

6. An ignition switch lock, comprising arotatable member'havin mountedthereon electric contacts, means tor limiting the extent of rotation ofsaid member, the opposite limits of the movement of said member placingthe said contacts either in onor off position, a key for controlling thelock, means for preventing insertion or removal of the key into or fromthe lock except when the latter is in position to hold the contactsmounted thereon in 01f position, and'tensioned yielding means tending tocause rotation of said rotatable member to move said contacts into onposition.

blers to engage the means upon the said cylinder upon removal of the kefrom the lock to hold the said contacts in o position, and means adaptedto return and hold the said rotatable member with the contacts mountedthereon in on position in case the said key should not be removed afterhaving rotated the said member into off position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my-invention I have hereuntosigned my name this 2nd day of October, A. D., 1926.

FREDERICK W. ANDREW;

